Top 10 Air Purifying Indoor Plants for Your Home

Looking for different types of indoor plant ideas to spruce up your home? Bringing some natural décor into your home will not only improve the aesthetic of each room, but will also improve the quality of the air inside your house.

Plants get their energy through the process of photosynthesis, and this process purifies air by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen – so naturally a plant with a bigger leaf surface area will have a higher rate of air purification. During a NASA experiment in 1989, when researchers were looking for ways to detoxify the air inside space stations, they found that indoor plants are natural air purifiers and can cleanse the air from toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene. You might be surprised to learn that these toxins can be released from many common household items like cleaning products, detergents, paints, and oils.

Whether it’s your first, second or tenth indoor plant, we’ve pulled together a list of our best air-purifying indoor plants that not only add beauty to your home, but also remove harmful toxins to keep your family breathing fresh, clean air.

 

1.  Aloe Vera

Let’s be honest, when you think of Aloe Vera, you immediately think of its ability to soothe burns, but this succulent is also a good indoor air purifier. Aloe Vera is also a great way to measure the air quality inside your home because it will start to get spots on its leaves if toxin levels get too high - that’s handy!

Care tip: Aloe Vera likes a bit of sun and a bit of shade, so the windowsill is the perfect place for this houseplant.

 

2.  Mother-in-Law’s Tongue

Also known as the Snake Plant, the Mother-in-Law's Tongue is a low-maintenance indoor plant that works best during the night to release oxygen and help you breathe better in your sleep. It removes harmful toxins, allergens and dust from the air you breathe by absorbing it through their leaves.

Care tip: Overwatering this plant can damage its roots, so stick to watering just once a week. The perfect location for this plant is in a bright place near a window.

 

3.  Bamboo Palm

The Bamboo Palm tree adds a touch of earthy green to your home with its tall stature, growing anywhere between 4 to 12 feet. The Bamboo Palm tree transpires lots of moisture into the air while cleansing the toxins that come from your common household cleaning products.

Care tip: The Bamboo Palm plant will thrive in humid conditions, with indirect bright light, and water it at least 1 to 3 times a week.

 

4.  Peace Lily

If you’re a newbie or after an easy-to-maintain indoor plant, the Peace Lily is perfect for you. Its high transpiration rate makes it an all-natural dehumidifier, and when its glossy green leaves start to turn brown and droopy, you’ll know that it’s time to water it.

Care tip: The Peace Lily is ideal for filling up compact spots. Place it under indirect bright light and water it weekly to enjoy its beautiful white flowers.

 

5.  Spider Plant

The Spider Plant is easy to look after and perfect for new plant owners or neglectful ones. It helps to clean the air by eliminating unhealthy toxins from the use of common household products. The Spider Plant shoots out flowers that eventually grow into more Spider Plants or spiderettes... you can even re-pot the spiderettes and give them to your friends so they can grow their own Spider Plant collection!

Care tip: The Spider Plant loves spaces with bright but indirect sunlight, so find a sunny spot inside where it can thrive.

 

6.  Rubber Tree

The Rubber Tree’s burgundy colour adds depth and spice to your home, along with its high production of oxygen eliminating mold spores, bacteria and toxins that can be harmful to your family.

Care tip: Whether you put your Rubber Tree in your bedroom or living room, as long as there’s bright filtered light and space to grow, this indoor plant will grow well.

 

7.  Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums, or ‘mums’ for short, are well known for their vibrant colours and beautiful flowers. It’s actually the flowers of the Chrysanthemum that removes the toxins to purify the air that your family breathes.

Care tip: Chrysanthemums love sunlight so placing them near a sunny window will make them happy and make your home look more elegant - a win-win situation!

 

8.  Weeping Fig

The Weeping Fig is such an easy plant to take care of that it’s ideal for new plant owners. This plant can grow very fast and while it can look intimidating due to its sheer size, it’s an especially good protector for new homes, because it will absorb any chemical toxins released from new furniture, carpet or paint.

Care tip: Got a spot in your home with bright indirect light? Place your Weeping Fig plant there and see how tall it can grow!

 

9.  Boston Fern

The Boston Fern is easy to look after and you can choose to pot it or hang it up. While this plant can do well both indoors and outdoors, its air purifying benefits are more effective inside the home. It eliminates chemicals caused by household cleaning products to ensure your family is always breathing clean air.

Care tip: Not sure where’s the best place to put this plant? A cool place with high humidity and indirect light such as the bathroom is a perfect spot.

 

10.  Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese Evergreen plant is a durable plant that’s easy to look after, making it ideal for first-time owners or more forgetful plant parents. It has a high oxygen production level, so this plant is always working hard to eliminate harmful toxins from the air in your house.

Care tip: Find a shaded area in your lounge and put this plant there - just make sure you water it weekly to keep the soil moist.

 

Once you bring your new leafy friends home you’ll need to think about where you want to put them, and if you’ve got pets or small children running around the house, it can play a part in where you decide to place them. But in the case that your indoor plants do get knocked over – simply vacuum up any loose dirt or debris, and then using Rug Doctor’s Spot Remover to clean out any marks or stains from your carpets.

There you go; our top 10 air-purifying indoor plants. If you’re looking for more information on how to keep your home looking, feeling, and smelling clean, download our personalised cleaning guide!